Fergusson College road: A road towards fun and learning
Info Guide — By Kadambari on February 22, 2011 at 11:12 AMNamed after the prominent college of Pune, Fergusson College Road lies on the inner west side of Pune. The area is by far one of the most exclusive locations for education, commercial and residential purposes. Always bustling with youngsters this place is always full of activities.
Fifty years back, FC road, as it is called by the locals, was the starting point of Mumbai- Pune road, then known as Bombay – Poona road. Currently the road starts from Police parade ground junction and ends at Deccan Gymkhana’s Good Luck Chowk.
The eminent Fergusson College, which got established in 1884, gave this area a new identity. The place has developed drastically and you shall find several other well known educational institutions and commercial hubs brimming here and at the adjoining areas.
FC road being a popular hangout has become a favourite spot for many commercial establishments. Right from Barista, Aromas, Subway, Monginis and many other fashion stores, the road is laden with food and clothing stores.
Eateries
FC road is well loved for the numerous eating outlets. Vaishali restaurant is one of the biggest landmarks of this area. This restaurant has been serving authentic South Indian delicacies for over 50 years now. The addition of other restaurants was like adding more feathers to the cap.
Roopali, Savera, Wadeshwar, Horn Ok Please, Yana, Savera, Koyla are some of the other prominent hotels found here, that satisfy different taste buds and dining preferences. Apart from these restaurants, you shall find many other small eateries serving wide range of delicacies. Whether it is a hot chocolate toast or simply our chana chor garam, you are sure to find platters that well fit in your budget.
Shop till you drop
The best part of shopping at FC road is the variety of fashion stores available here. Right from the footpath hawkers to the big stores, you will find one that can suit your pocket. Be it fashionable clothes, trendy footwear or stylish accessories, there is enough stuff to delight your eyes as well as wallets.
For gifts and cards, Archies gallery is where you need to head for. Both are well known for the range of gift articles. Venus Traders, a well known brand for stationery is also located on one of the small lanes intersecting FC and Apte road.
Educational Institutes
Fergusson College, which was established in 1884 has had some of the well known names studied here. With a history of 125 years, this college is one of the pioneers when it comes to educational institutes of Pune. A sprawling campus, the college itself has a popular hangout called Kimaya. It offers residential facility for outstation students.
Ranade Institute
One of the well known and reputed institutes for foreign languages, Ranade Institute is affiliated with Pune University. It also offers courses in journalism and communication.
Other notable places
Times of India office
Times of India, one of the prominent papers of India, has its office next to Vaishali restaurant. The swanky office is quite an eye catcher and certainly a major landmark as well.
British Library is one of the biggest in India and has been functioning on FC road for over fifty years. It has a rich collection of books, DVD’s, encyclopaedia, research papers and case studies. The library caters to the needs of a cosmopolitan crowd.
Banks
IDBI, HDFC and Bank of Maharashtra have their branches located on FC road.
An ideal destination for commercial and residential purposes, Fergusson college road is undoubtedly one of well developed areas of Pune. One must visit this place for a taste of Pune and its vivid offerings.
